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Solo Open at Carsington Sailing Club
1 September 2024
Nigel Davies clinches victory at the joint Midlands and Northern open, with Steve Dennison in 2nd and Chris Brown in 3rd.
A fleet of 22 boats participated in Race 1, initially facing a 10-knot breeze. As the race commenced, the wind dropped, leading a group to tack right and catch the next wind band. Nigel Davies took the lead, followed by Jamie Cuxson, rounding the top mark and maintaining a strong advantage. Davies ultimately won, with Cuxson securing 2nd and Iain Carpenter finishing in 3rd.
In Race 2, the trend continued as the right side of the first beat once again proved beneficial. Jonathan Swain led around the top mark, closely followed by Steve Dennison. By the leeward mark, Dennison had taken the lead, but Swain fought back in the second beat, coming close to regaining it. Dennison held his ground and won, with Swain finishing 2nd and Ted Garner in 3rd.
Race 3 presented slightly stronger winds at 15 knots, adding to the excitement. Russell Short initially led the race, followed by Ted Garner, but with stronger gusts, the downwind leg offered opportunities for gains. Chris Brown, who rounded the windward mark in 6th, seized the opportunity and took the lead by the end of lap 2, maintaining it to win the race. Meanwhile, Swain was in 3rd and Davies in 6th, giving Swain an initial edge for the overall event win. However, Davies made a strategic move on the final reach, overtaking three boats to finish 3rd and secure the event victory. Russell Short finished 2nd in this race.
The 1st Lady award went to Alice Hyde from Carsington, who, sailing a borrowed boat and having no prior experience in a Solo, impressively finished 9th overall with consistently low scores across the three races.
Thanks to Carsington Sailing Club and the race team for organizing a successful day of sailing, and a special thank you to the sponsors, Allen and CB Coverstore.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Sail No | Helm | Club | R1 | R2 | R3 | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 6108 | Nigel Davies | Draycote Water | 1 | ‑10 | 3 | 4 |
| 2nd | 6073 | Stephen Denison | RYA | ‑13 | 1 | 6 | 7 |
| 3rd | 0 | Chris Brown | Draycote Water | ‑10 | 7 | 1 | 8 |
| 4th | 6107 | Ted Garner | Budworth SC | ‑11 | 3 | 5 | 8 |
| 5th | 5880 | Martin Honor | Ogston SC | 4 | 4 | (DNC) | 8 |
| 6th | 6055 | Jonathan Swain | Carsington SC | ‑14 | 2 | 8 | 10 |
| 7th | 5704 | Jamie Cuxson | Shustoke SC | 2 | 8 | ‑11 | 10 |
| 8th | 6014 | Russell Short | Ogston SC | ‑9 | 9 | 2 | 11 |
| 9th | 6855 | Alice Hyde | Carsington SC | 5 | 6 | ‑7 | 11 |
| 10th | 6041 | Chris Gillard | Sheffield Viking | 6 | 5 | (DNC) | 11 |
| 11th | 5736 | Iain Carpenter | Northampton SC | 3 | ‑14 | 9 | 12 |
| 12th | 5723 | Steven Bishop | 8 | ‑15 | 10 | 18 | |
| 13th | 5623 | Adam Savage | Elton SC | ‑17 | 16 | 4 | 20 |
| 14th | 5617 | Stephen Resall | Elton SC | 7 | ‑18 | 15 | 22 |
| 15th | 5210 | Neil Wilkinson | Chase SC | ‑12 | 11 | 12 | 23 |
| 16th | 5312 | Stuart Norris | Shropshire SC | 16 | ‑17 | 13 | 29 |
| 17th | 5401 | Andrew Bownes | Barnt Green | 15 | ‑21 | 14 | 29 |
| 18th | 5979 | John Colgrave | Yorkshire Dale SC | 19 | 12 | (DNC) | 31 |
| 19th | 5856 | Brian Fisher | ‑22 | 13 | 18 | 31 | |
| 20th | 5654 | Graham Ellis | Budworth SC | 18 | ‑22 | 17 | 35 |
| 21st | 5675 | Maria Franco Ferro | Northampton SC | ‑21 | 20 | 16 | 36 |
| 22nd | 5671 | Simon Dipple | Shustoke SC | ‑20 | 19 | 19 | 38 |
| 23rd | 4537 | Ian Shaw | Notts County SC | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 50 |
| 23rd | 4642 | Martin Clowes | Otley SC | (DNC) | DNC | DNC | 50 |
Source
Oliver Hayes, a seasoned sailor and marine journalist from Southampton, has a profound love for the sea that has shaped his career. Holding a degree in Marine Journalism from the University of Portsmouth, Oliver is celebrated for his compelling and insightful storytelling. His work vividly captures the excitement of sailing and the rich maritime heritage of the United Kingdom, making him a respected figure in the sailing community. When not writing, Oliver enjoys exploring the British Isles’ diverse coastlines and participating in local regattas, always on the lookout for his next nautical adventure.
